Lafourche officials look to Larose for launch

Lafourche Parish officials have abandoned effort to put the Clovelly boat launch near Cut Off back into use.

Parish President Charlotte Randolph tells The Daily Comet (http://bit.ly/VmRT1a) that a site in Larose is under consideration and could serve the same need.

The Clovelly launch was closed to free public use last year and has been converted into a paid launch its owner, officials say.

Parish officials had hoped they could reach a deal with the landowners to keep the longtime launch free to the public.

The launch provides access to Little Lake. It was open for years through an agreement between the parish and the landowners. Under the agreement, the parish maintained a farm road on the land, and the landowners allowed access to the launch.

The launched closed last year after the landowners began adding requirements in the deal with the parish, Randolph said.

The land is owned by Little Lake Land Co. and General Agricultural Services, both based in Nebraska.

The parish hired an attorney last year to negotiate with the companies, but the talks failed to produce an agreement.

"The case is closed," Randolph said. "The landowners insisted on us providing an additional pump, and there was no public benefit for the pump."